“Campaign for America’s Energy” Aims to Educate Alabama Policymakers, Families and Small Businesses about the Benefits of Balancing Energy Production with Environmental Initiatives

November 16, 2017

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – November 16, 2017 –Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today announced the start of a statewide campaign designed to educate Alabama policymakers, families, and businesses about the benefits of energy and the central role it plays in their everyday lives and budget.

CEA’s “Campaign for America’s Energy” will highlight the importance of affordable, reliable energy in the lives of families and businesses and the consequences that result from bad policy decisions. CEA will continue to hold the energy industry in Alabama and throughout its neighboring states to a high safety standard while recognizing the need for continued innovation to advance environmental goals.

The launch of this movement, aimed at changing, balancing, and improving the energy discussion so that those directly impacted – American families and businesses – have a greater voice in the dialogue. The effort will encourage elected officials and those in Alabama to adopt policies that support energy production and delivery as well as sound environmental stewardship. Specifically in Alabama, the Campaign will focus on key energy issues, including offshore development, infrastructure, and energy security, with a specific focus on how energy development can be help to provide Alabamians with jobs, revenue and economic activity.

CEA also aims to bring greater awareness to how rejecting or delaying energy production and infrastructure projects hurts lower-income households and those on fixed incomes. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Alabamians spend nearly $4,140 annually on energy. For a low-income Alabamian living at the poverty line, that translates to over 34 percent of their individual income. These expenses often saddle households who can least afford them, especially like the more than 16 percent of Alabama residents who are seniors.

“From the perspective of industry and manufacturing, reliable and affordable energy is absolutely critical to maintaining competitiveness,” said George Clark, President of Manufacture Alabama. “Fully utilizing all of Alabama’s energy resources in an environmentally friendly manner will bolster the state’s economy by generating revenue to modernize our infrastructure systems and by creating more career opportunities that will support families across our state.”

“Alabamians shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes, buying a meal, or filling a medical prescription, yet for too many, that’s precisely what’s happening – and energy costs are a big reason why,” said Brent Greenfield, Vice President of Policy for CEA. “Yes, we agree: We must push energy companies to innovate, reduce emissions and improve performance. Protecting and improving the environment is a must-do, but so is ensuring affordable energy, and we can only do this if Democrats and Republicans work together to support more balanced policies.”

CEA, an advocacy organization representing families, manufacturers, agriculture, transporters, distributors, energy producers, renewables and various other industries in Alabama and across the U.S., focuses on helping ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. The organization pushes energy companies to innovate and improve performance while supporting energy independence and a diversification of our energy resources, including renewables like solar and wind.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.consumerenergyalliance.org/campaign-for-americas-energy/Alabama.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.